Gate-latch.



FFlC 1 JAMES BENNETT BARNWELL, OF VALDOSTA, GEORGIA.

GATE-LATCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J une 7, 1910.

Application filed March 27, 1907. Serial No. 364,760.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES BENNETT BARNWELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Valdosta, in the county of Lowndes and State of Georgia, have invented a new and useful Gate-Latch; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and eXact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention pertains to a latch, of new and useful design and construction, for securing doors, gates and like closures, particularly designed for fastening said gates.

In connection with an apparatus of the above type, the invention aims as a primary and essential object to provide a device of this character having the main coperative parts suitably carried by the posts of the gate, that is, the one against which the gate strikes when closed. The posts carrying these main coperative parts are provided with a transverse opening of a peculiar design, which will allow for a swing, for the latch which is pivoted therein. The gate, the outer end of which swings adjacent said post, is provided with a suitable lug bolted or otherwise secured to the post, forming the outer strengthening means of the gate.

This invention comprises further objects and combinations of elements which will be hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings, and the novel features thereof will be pointed out by the appended claim.

To obtain a full and correct understanding of the details of construction, combinations of features, elements and advantages, reference is to be had to the hereinafter set forth description and the accompanying drawings in connection therewith, wherein- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the post carrying the main coperative parts of the latch, clearly illustrating the said latch. Fig. 2 is a sectional view on line 2-2 of Fig. l, clearly illustrating the design of opening transversely through the said post carrying the coperative main parts. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the latch removed from the post.

Making renewed reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts in the several illustrations, by iigures, l designates the post, adjacent to which the outer free end of the gate is designed to swing. This post is provided with a transverse opening 2 therein which has inclined walls 3, that is, inclined transversely; these walls only eX- tend part way through the said opening, as at 4. These walls also allow the latch 5 which is pivoted, as at 6, in the said opening, to swing laterally, that is, when the gate swings adjacent to the said post, thereby allowing the lug 8 to cooperate with the curved portion 9 of one of the free ends of the said latch, after which the said lug 8 will lie within a pocket 10, formed in the post and to one side of the recess 2; this pocket l() also communicates with the recess 2.

The latch 5 is provided with a lug 9, which is provided with an engaging face 9a, which is disposed over the mouth of the pocket 10, and with which the lug 8 abut-s, that is to say, when an attempt is made to open the gate, without pushing the latch to one side, as will be clearly understood. The latch beyond the lug 9c, as at 9d, contacts with that portion of the post which is adj acent the pocket 10, so as to limit the movement of said latch, as will be clearly evident. The said lug is suitably bolted or otherwise secured to the free end of the gate, as at 1l. The free end of the latch designated by the numeral 12 has connected thereto one end of a spring 18, while the other end of said spring is connected with a portion of the fence which is closed by the said Oate. c Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new and useful by the protection of Letters Patent, is

A gate latch consisting of a centrally fulcrumed lever having near its forward end,

a lateral lug provided with an engaging face which being closed by said lateral lug, as l0 9 and :1 curved outer face 9, a resilient membeil connected to said lever at its inner end, and adapted to hold said lever in a line at right angles to the plane of the supporting post for said latch, said lever beyond the lug being adapted to engage said post so as to limit the movement of said lever or latch, said post having a pocket l() the mouth of and for the purpose specied.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

JANIES BENNETT BARNVELL.

Vitnesses VM. D. JENKINS, H. E. VANSIGKEL. 

